Special Virtues of the Night of Decree

Allaah The Almighty has attached a special value to the Laylat Al-Qadr, and has given this night special characteristics which make it unique, such as:

It is the night on which the Quran was sent down. Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “Allaah sent down the Quran at one time from Al-Lawh Al-Mahfooth (the Preserved Tablet in the Seventh Heaven) to Bayt Al-‘Izzah (House of Pride) in the first Heaven, then it was revealed to the Messenger of Allaah in stages according to events over twenty-three years.” [Ibn Katheer]

Allaah The Almighty described it as being better than a thousand months, as He Says (what means): {“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.”} [Quran 97:3]

Allaah The Almighty described it as being blessed, as He Says (what means): {“Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night.”} [Quran 44: 3]

On this night, the angels and the Spirit [Jibreel (Angel Gabriel)] descend, “i.e., many angels descend on this night because it is so blessed, and the angels come down when the blessings and mercy of Allaah The Almighty come down, just as they come down when the Quran is recited, and they surround the circles of Thikr (gatherings where Allaah The Almighty is mentioned), and they spread their wings for the one who sincerely seeks knowledge, out of respect for him.” [Ibn Katheer]Jibreel is specifically mentioned as a sign of respect for him.

This night is described as peace, i.e., it is safe, for the devils cannot do any evil or cause any harm on this night, as Mujaahid said, “On this night, many people are saved from punishment because of what they do to worship Allaah, The Most Exalted.”

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {“On that night is made distinct every precise matter.” } [Quran 44:4], the affairs of that year are dispatched from the Preserved Tablet to the angels who record the decrees: who will live, who will die, what provision people will be given, what will happen until the end of that year, every matter of ordainment is decreed, and it cannot be altered or changed. [Ibn Katheer]

Allaah The Almighty revealed a Chapter concerning this night which will be recited until the Day of Resurrection, in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {“Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter. Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.”} [Quran 97:1-5]

The Prophet, , said: “Seek Laylat Al-Qadr in the last ten days of Ramadan.”[Muslim]

It is more likely to be one of the odd-numbered nights, because of the narration of ‘Aa’ishah who said that the Messenger of Allaah, , had said: “Seek Laylat Al-Qadr in the odd-numbered nights of the last ten nights.” [Al-Bukhaari]

It is most likely to be on the night of the twenty-seventh, according to the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam:“Laylat Al-Qadr is the night of the twenty-seventh.” [Ahmad and Abu Daawood] This is the preponderant view of most of the Companions and the majority of scholars. Ubayy ibn Ka’b used to assert, without saying “In shaa’ Allaah (God willing)” that: “…it was the night of the twenty-seventh. Zurr ibn Hubaysh , , said to Ubayy : ‘I said, What makes you say that, O Abu’l-Munthir (i.e. Ubay)?’ He said, ‘By the signs of which the Messenger of Allaah, told us: that the sun rises that morning with no visible rays.’” [Muslim]

The fact that it is more likely the night of the twenty-seventh does not mean that this is always the case. It could be any of the other odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Some of the scholars ruled that it is more likely that it moves and does not come on a specific night each year.